Let Let Let – Warplanes

Latécoère 521/522/523

In 1930 Latécoère designed a four-engined trans-Atlantic flying boat for passenger transport as the Laté 520. It was planned with the Hispano-Suiza HS 18 Sbr engines of 1000 hp each, but because Hispano Suiza terminated the development of this engine Latécoère was now more or less forces to use six lower rated engines. The new six-engined flying boat received the type designation 521 as an all-metal plane with a large shoulder wing that was connected with struts to low-placed sponsons. Four engines were housed in the wing centre section in two tandem nacelles driving tractor and pusher propellers. The last two engines were fitted in wing leading edge nacelles. The Laté 521 made its first flight in January 1935. It was named Lieutenant de Vaisseau Paris and could carry 30 passengers on trans-Atlantic flights. On shorter flights in the Mediterranean area it could carry up to 70 passengers. The single Laté 521 was put into service by Air France, but on 24 January 1936 it was hit by a hurricane during a visit at Pensacola USA and turned upside-down in the sea. It was salvaged and completely rebuilt. Carrying the civil registration F-NORD it was put into service again in May 1937. The Laté 521 was found to be a very good and durable seaplane which was clearly showed when it established a new seaplane record for distance when it covered over the period 1-2 November 1937 a distance of 5800 km in 34 hours and 37 minutes. In December 1937 it set a number of additional records for seaplanes on speed-to-load and load-to-altitude. At the outbreak of the war the Laté was put into service by the Aéronavale at Escadrille E6 where it was used for Atlantic patrol missions until August 1940. Later it was damaged beyond repair in August 1944 by retreating German troops.

Based on the relative success of the Laté 521, the Ministry of Aviation ordered a second Latécoère flying boat for the transatlantic routes. Fitted with more powerful engines and a redesigned nose it made its first flight on 20 April 1939 carrying the civil registration F-ARAP and the name ‘Ville de Saint-Pierre’. It was impressed for use by the Aeronavale, but in March 1942 it was returned to Air France for civil use. Just like the Laté 521, it was damaged beyond repair in August 1944 by retreating German forces.

For the Aéronavale an additional three militarised versions were ordered as the Laté 523. The first Laté 523 made its maiden flight on 20 January 1938. The three Laté 523′s were named ‘Altair’, ‘Algol’ and ‘Aldebaran’. All three machines served at Escadrille E6 for maritime patrol duties. ‘Algol’ made a forced landing during a patrol mission on 18 September 1939 and had to be sunk by gunfire. The two remaining 523′s were used operationally until they were unserviceable in 1942.

Technical details (Laté 521):

Power plants: 6 Hispano-Suiza 12Ybrs liquid-cooled V-12 engines of 860 hp each
Dimensions: wingspan 49.31 m
length 31.62 m
height 9.07 m
wing area 330 m2 + 53 m2 of sponsoons
Weights: empty 18,882 kg
all-up loaded 37,409 kg
Performances: max. speed 250 km/h at 1000 m
range 4100 km
service ceiling 6300 m
Equipment: crew of 8

Loire 102

Being a part of the Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques de l’Ouest, the Loire-Nieuport group was well known for its series of military aircraft (although produced in limited numbers!). In the early thirties Loire designed and build a new flying boat with type number 102 that could traverse the Atlantic Ocean with a limited number of passengers (4 only) or that could be used for shorter distances in the Mediterranean area with a capacity of 26-30 passengers. Constructed of light-alloy, with a strutted single shoulder wing and double vertical tail surfaces, it was quite modern for its time with the four engines places in two pods on the centre wing section. The first flight of the Loire 102 was made on 12 May 1936. It was intended to be operated by Air France, but finally it was never ordered and only a single prototype was built carrying the civil registration F-AOVV. The name ‘Bretagne’ was carried on the bow of the hull. During test flights excessive vibration was encountered that was never solved in spite of many constructional changes and the plane never received it certificate of navigation!

Technical details:

Power plants: four Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs liquid-cooled in-line engines of 720 hp each
Dimensions: wingspan 34.00m
length 23.00 m
height 6.92 m
wing area 136.3 m2
Weights: empty 9670 kg
all-up loaded 18,530 kg
Performances: max. speed 287 km/h at 400 m
range 3500 km m
service ceiling 6000 m

Related posts:

1. Dutch flying boats and amphibians
2. German flying boats Part 1: 1914-1935
3. German flying boats Part 2: 1935-2000
4. Vanneau history
5. Dornier Do-28 amphibian for the MLD

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